Improvement in spoons



Nin STATES Erica.

arent IMPROVEMENT IN SPOONS.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, R. HUMPHREY, of Unionville, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spoons and Forks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and'exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a plan or top view ot' a spoon constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar View of an ordinary spoon, intended to show the difference between the two.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to strengthen the handle of a spoon or fork at such places where the same as now constructed is most liable to bend and break; and the invention relates more particularly to such handles, which are produced of thin sheet metal and rendered stift' by turning the edges downward. Such handles are most liable to bend or break at the juncture of the widestportion of the handle with its narrow stem, and again at the juncture of the handle with the bowl. According to this invention these points are strengthened by raising a projection across each of the weak spots ina direction parallel with the longitudial center of the handle and of any desirable form or shape.

A represents a spoon, which is made of thin sheet metal by stamping` or in any other desirable manner. The handle B is strengthened by turning its edges down to form aflange, d,

s Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,907, dated March 2l, 1565.

all around, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but ordinarily such handles are left smooth on the top throughout, as shown in Fig. 3, and they are liable to bend and break across the points b where the widest part of the handle joins the narrow stem and again across the point c where the handle joins the bowl. In order to strengthen these points, I raise projections d e on the upper surface of the handle, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2. These projections may be heart-shaped, as shown, or they may be made in any other form and shape, and they are raised by the same die, which also serves to form the handle and turn the iiange a at its under side. 1f the die is once made, my improved handle can be made with equal facility as the ordinary handle. It requires no more stock and no eXtra time. It improves the appearance and particularly the strength ofthe handle, andif l lay two spoons side by side, one made according to my invention and one of the ordinary kind, any person of ordinary understanding, if made acquainted with the difference, will prefer the improved spoon, and will even submit to a slight advance in the price for the sake of the greater strength and durability of my spoon.

l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A spoon or fork handle provided with a projection, d, at the j uneture of its widest part with its stem and with a similar projection at its juncture with the bowl, substantially as described.

It. HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

ANDREW S. UrsoN, FREDERICK L. TEYON. 

